Trump Claims Herzog Pardon for Netanyahu Is ‘On Its Way,’ Israeli President Denies It
Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he had spoken with Israeli President Isaac Herzog about a potential pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the pardon was “on its way”, a claim Herzog’s office quickly rejected. The disputed exchange came during Trump’s public remarks in Florida while Netanyahu stood beside him.
The contrasting accounts have thrust a major diplomatic conflict into the open, with Trump insisting Netanyahu, who faces ongoing corruption charges, deserves clemency while Israeli officials deny any such pledge. Herzog’s office said it had not promised a pardon and the matter remains in standard review. Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing in his trial.
According to Reuters, Trump praised Netanyahu as a wartime leader and suggested he should receive clemency, but Herzog’s spokesperson said no recent conversation or commitment on a pardon took place. Israeli pardons are legally possible but traditionally occur only after trial completion under a formal process that hasn’t yet concluded.
This is not Trump’s first intervention, earlier in 2025 he wrote to Herzog urging a full pardon, calling Netanyahu’s prosecution “political” and “unjustified,” and he has publicly supported ending the trial.
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“Anyone seeking a presidential pardon must follow established procedures,” Herzog’s office said in its rebuttal, emphasizing legal norms.
Why it matters…
The dispute touches on the rule of law in Israel, U.S.–Israel diplomatic norms, and perceptions of foreign influence in domestic legal matters. A mid-trial pardon would be unprecedented and could deepen political divisions within Israel and internationally.
What happens next…
Israeli legal advisers and Herzog will review Netanyahu’s formal pardon petition, with a decision unlikely until formal procedures are complete and possibly well after the trial’s next phase. The story continues to evolve.
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